Sunday, April 25, 2021

"Anxiety and Distress" - The Civilian Experience Inside the Siege of Boston



Over the years, historians have written countless works on the military and political aspects of the Siege of Boston. Unfortunately, little attention has been given to the impact of the siege upon the residents of the city. As British military and political authorities attempted to recover from the disaster of April 19, 1775, the residents of Boston found themselves trapped inside a town that was on the verge of social and economic collapse.

In our season 2 premiere of Historical Nerdery The Podcast, we investigate the struggles and hardships of the Massachusetts civilians trapped behind enemy lines during the Siege of Boston in 1775 and 1776. 


Tuesday, April 20, 2021

“your Petitioner is so much hurted:” John Robbins and his April 19 Wound (Featuring Special Guest Bloggers Historians Joel Bohy and Dr. Douglas D. Scott)

 


The Nerds are thrilled to have Historians Joel Bohy and Dr. Douglas D. Scott join us today as guest bloggers!

Mr. Bohy is considered one of the leading experts on the events of April 19, 1775. He is an appraiser of arms and militaria on PBS’s popular Antiques Roadshow. He’s also an active member of the American Society of Arms Collectors and an instructor for Advanced Metal Detecting for the Archaeologist.

Dr. Scott has been the Great Plains Team Leader for National Park Service’s Midwest Archaeological Center in Lincoln, Nebraska since 1983. He has written five books and more than 100 monographs and articles on those and related subjects. He is particularly noted for his expertise in battlefield archeology and firearms identification. 

Without further introduction, take it away gentlemen!

Many of us have read the histories of April 19, 1775. The British expedition marching all night to Lexington, arriving early in the morning. Muskets fired, men killed and wounded. Obviously, we feel pain and heartbreak for the dead and their families, but what about the men listed as wounded? The British then march off towards Concord and the events of the day continued. But back to Lexington. What became of those ten men who were wounded? Were they badly hurt? Did they recover? Sadly, for most of them we just do not know as their stories have been lost to history, but for one we do.

One of the members of Captain John Parker’s Lexington militia company wounded that morning was John Robbins. His name not only appears in the newspapers of the period and history books, but he was one of the men who wrote a deposition on April 24, 1775 for the Provincial Congress attesting to what happened on Lexington Green:

“I John Robins being of lawfull age, do Testify & say that on the nineteenth Inst. the Company under the Command of Capn. John Parker, being drawn up, (sometime before sun Rise) on the Green or Common, And, I being in the front Rank, there suddenly appear’d a Number of the Kings Troops, About a Thousand as I thought, at the distance of about 60, or 70 yards from us Hazzar[d]ing and on a quick pace toward us, with three officers in their front, on Horse Back and on full Gallop towards us, the foremost of which cryed, throw down your Arms ye Villains, ye Rebels, upon which said Company Disperseding. - The foremost of the three Officers orderd their Men, saying fire, by God fire, at which Moment we Received a very heavy & close fire from them, at which Instant, being wounded I fell, Several of our men were shot Dead by one, Capn. Parkers men, I believe had not then fired a Gun and further the Deponant saith not -John Robins”

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One of the interesting things is his name is misspelled as “Robins,” missing one of the n’s not only at the start of his deposition but also in the signature. Is this a clue to his wounds?

After April 19 and the Battle of Bunker Hill a few of the wounded men began to ask the state for help. Their wounds, in some cases, made them unable to work and make a living. Medical bills were also growing and with no income how could they pay the bills and provide for their families? Many of these petitions for a pension, or after December 1775 for lost and broken material, are in the collection of the Massachusetts State Archives spread through numerous volumes. The earliest petition for Robbins is from 1776. It gives a description of his wounds:


“To the Honorable the Colony Counsil & the Honorable the House of Representatives in general Court assembled The Petition of John Robbins of Lexington Humbly Sheweth, That your Petitioner was on the memorable 19th of april 1775 most grievously wounded. by the Brittish Troops in Lexington, by a musket ball which passed by the left of the spine between his Shoulders through the length of his neck making its way through and most miserably Shattering his under jaw bone, by which unhappy Wound your Petitioner is so much hurted in the Muscles of his shoulder, that his Right arms is rendered almost  useless to him in his Business and by the fracture of his under jaw the power of Mastecation is totally  destroyed and by his, low Slop diet, weakness, and  total loss of his right arm, and the running  of his wound, his Situation is rendered truly Pitiable being unable to Contribute any thing to the Support of a wife and five small Children but is rather a Burden upon them, & has no Encouragement from his Surgeon of his being Materialy better He therefor is under the disagrable  Necessity of begging relief & assistance of this Honrrable Court by a Pension or other wise as your Honors Great wisdom & compations may suggest, and your Petitioner as in duty bound will Ever pray Lexington 14th June 1776 John Robbins”



Not only does the petition describe his ghastly wound, but he had a wife and five small children all under the age of 13 to support. For the 1776 petition, Robbins is given a pension for the year:


“The Committee on the Petition of John Robbins have heard The Petitioner Examined his wounds considered his deplorable Circumstances and Report by way of Resolve---- In the House of Representatives Nov 4th 1776-----

Resolved that there be allowed and paid out of the Publick Trsy to and for the use of the Petitioner John Robbins the sum of thirteen Pounds six Shillings and Eight pence yearly untill the General  Court Shall otherwise Order it, to Recompence him for his sufferings by wounds which he recd on the 19th of Aprill 1775”


He submits petitions with the same wording till 1778 when he has another addition to his family, a daughter named Hannah. This time his petition also included a note from his doctor. It seems his body was never going to recover from his awful bullet wound from the morning of the 19th:


“To The honorable Council of the State of Massachusetts  Bay. This Certificate humbly sheweth that the Bearer Mr John Robbins of Lexington receiv,d such a grevious Wound thro: the Muscles of his right shoulder Neck & Jaw Bone which last was miserably fractured: by which Wound the unhappy Man is yet so debilitated in his right shoulder that He is unable to perform but very little labor as Fatigue upon his small Farm for the support of a numerous  Family of young Children and in the Opinion of the Subscriber who was his surgeon He is unhappily like to remain in such a weakned hopeless Condition during life and is a proper Object of the gracious Bounty of this State----------- Watertown July 5th .1778 sign,d Marshall Spring, N.B. He was wounded in the Morning of the 19th of april 1775 at Lexington."



Robbins continues to petition yearly for a pension through the war and does receive money from the state. The last listing found for him is in a newspaper article with a list of pensioners stating that a July 8, 1786 resolve of the courts placed him on a list of pensioners that the commonwealth felt could do garrison duty. He was to appear at the Commissary of Pensions for a revue. After this date there does not seem to be any other info on John Robbins. But what about his wound?

John Robbin’s pension documents graphically describe the horrific wounds he suffered to his back, neck and jaw on Lexington Green, April 19, 1775. Could a single musket ball have done such extensive damage to cause him partial nerve damage in his arm and broken his jaw to the point of only being able to eat “low slop?” Or might his pension application exaggerated the effect of his wounds to obtain a larger compensation from a sympathetic audience? 


Military surgeons in the late 18th and well into the 19th century described and commented on treating gunshot wounds in a variety of texts and treatises. A perusal of some of these texts as well as the pertinent sections of the Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion (Part One, Volume 2 and Part 2, Volume 2, 1875 and 1877 respectively) for wound effects of .69-caliber musket balls clearly demonstrate that these large lead balls could indeed inflict significant and lasting effects to hard and soft tissue as well as nerves. Once a ball enters the human body it can be deflected from a straight path through the tissue by any number of factors and exit the body after a torturous route. This is borne out by our recent live fire studies of Colonial era weapons, particularly with the shooting of British land pattern muskets. We observed, using high speed video recording, that a .69-caliber ball shot at target 25 to 30 yards away that the ball’s velocity and energy were significant enough to pass through reproduction clothing and 32 inches of tissue simulant. That is the equivalent of the body mass of two people. The ball, on exiting the tissue simulant, still had enough velocity and energy to travel between 50 and 100 additional yards before reaching its terminal velocity.


John Robbins’ pension application account of his wounding provides additional clues as to why he suffered such extensive wounds.  Robbins states he was in the front rank of the Parker’s militiamen drawn up on Lexington Green. His account states the company started to disperse when the British regulars were ordered to fire.  Assuming the accuracy of his account he may well have turned so that his back was partially toward the British line. On hearing the firing begin he may have instinctively ducked or bent forward so that the British ball struck his upper left back near the spinal column. If slightly bent over, as is speculated, the ball could well have been deflected by muscle and possibly striking a transverse process on one of the vertebrae. Such deflection is consistent with the ball passing around or under the spinal column and traveling up the neck, shattering his mandible, and exiting the body.  Robbins’ right arm paralysis is consistent with bullet caused nerve damage, as is the damage to his jaw that no longer allowed him to chew his food. His note that the wound was still “running” suggests that his wound had not fully healed and he suffered from a residual infection. Perhaps some cloth bits or other foreign matter were still in the wound causing it to continue to fester and discharge up to at least 1776. He is lucky to have survived his wounds at all given the state of medical knowledge and treatment of the day.


Monday, April 19, 2021

Historical Nerdery The Podcast: Episode 6



Historical Nerdery’s long-awaited Season 1 podcast is finally here!!

Entitled the “Lexington Series”, our six-episode program examines 18th Century Lexington and all things related to the events of April 19, 1775!

Historical Nerdery The Podcast can be found on the following sites:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4yPO437hTfLISg7EF2wjEr
iHeart Radio:https://www.iheart.com/.../269-historical-nerdery-78236240/
Lisbyn: https://historicalnerdery.libsyn.com
iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/.../historical.../id1562263003

As well as all of your other favorite sites where you listen to your podcasts!!

Or...if you would like, you can listen to our podcast right here on our blog page!

In our Season 1 finale, we’re going to explore what really happened at the Battle of Lexington and how militia Captain John Parker was able to rally his defeated troops and inspire them to return to the bloody fight of April 19, 1775.

Historical Nerdery The Podcast: Episode 5

 

Historical Nerdery’s long-awaited Season 1 podcast is finally here!!


Entitled the “Lexington Series”, our six-episode program examines 18th Century Lexington and all things related to the events of April 19, 1775!

Historical Nerdery The Podcast can be found on the following sites:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4yPO437hTfLISg7EF2wjEr
iHeart Radio:https://www.iheart.com/.../269-historical-nerdery-78236240/
Lisbyn: https://historicalnerdery.libsyn.com
iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/.../historical.../id1562263003

As well as all of your other favorite sites where you listen to your podcasts!!

Or...if you would like, you can listen to our podcast right here on our blog page!

In our fifth episode, we investigate the Civilian Evacuation of April 19, 1775 - As war raged in the Middlesex countryside, hundreds of civilians, mostly women, and children were forced to flee from the safety of their homes in order to avoid the brutality of the Battles of Lexington and Concord. This is their untold story.

Sunday, April 18, 2021

Historical Nerdery The Podcast: Episode 4



Historical Nerdery’s long-awaited Season 1 podcast is finally here!!

Entitled the “Lexington Series”, our six-episode program examines 18th Century Lexington and all things related to the events of April 19, 1775!

Historical Nerdery The Podcast can be found on the following sites:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4yPO437hTfLISg7EF2wjEr
iHeart Radio:https://www.iheart.com/.../269-historical-nerdery-78236240/
Lisbyn: https://historicalnerdery.libsyn.com
iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/.../historical.../id1562263003

As well as all of your other favorite sites where you listen to your podcasts!!

Or...if you would like, you can listen to our podcast right here on our blog page!

In our fourth episode of the Lexington Series, we’ll share the story of the forgotten heroes of the Battles of Lexington and Concord … the Loyalist scouts and guides who risked their lives and fortune to assist the British expedition to Concord on April 19, 1775.

Saturday, April 17, 2021

Historical Nerdery The Podcast: Episode 3

Historical Nerdery’s long-awaited Season 1 podcast is finally here!!

Entitled the “Lexington Series”, our six-episode program examines 18th Century Lexington and all things related to the events of April 19, 1775!

Historical Nerdery The Podcast can be found on the following sites:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4yPO437hTfLISg7EF2wjEr
iHeart Radio:https://www.iheart.com/.../269-historical-nerdery-78236240/
Lisbyn: https://historicalnerdery.libsyn.com
iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/.../historical.../id1562263003

As well as all of your other favorite sites where you listen to your podcasts!!

Or...if you would like, you can listen to our podcast right here on our blog page!



In our third episode, we take a deep dive into the world of the Massachusetts minutemen on the eve of the American Revolution and discuss the role the Town of  Lexington played in the build-up to war with England.

Of course, coming soon...Season 2 of Historical Nerdery the Podcast!!

Friday, April 16, 2021

Historical Nerdery The Podcast: Episode 2

Historical Nerdery’s long-awaited Season 1 podcast is finally here!!

Entitled the “Lexington Series”, our six-episode program examines 18th Century Lexington and all things related to the events of April 19, 1775!

Historical Nerdery The Podcast can be found on the following sites:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4yPO437hTfLISg7EF2wjEr
iHeart Radio:https://www.iheart.com/.../269-historical-nerdery-78236240/
Lisbyn: https://historicalnerdery.libsyn.com
iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/.../historical.../id1562263003

As well as all of your other favorite sites where you listen to your podcasts!!

Or...if you would like, you can listen to our podcast right here on our blog page!




In our second episode of the Lexington Series, we explore the politics of 18th Century Lexington and learn just how this small dairy town went from peacefully resisting English Crown economic policy to openly preparing for war with England.

Of course, coming soon...Season 2 of Historical Nerdery the Podcast!!

Thursday, April 15, 2021

Historical Nerdery The Podcast: Episode 1

Our mothers always said we had a face for radio!
 
Historical Nerdery’s long-awaited Season 1 podcast is finally here!!
 
Entitled the “Lexington Series”, our six-episode program examines 18th Century Lexington and all things related to the events of April 19, 1775!

As well as all of your other favorite sites where you listen to your podcasts!!

Or...if you would like, you can listen to our podcast right here on our blog page!



In our pilot episode, entitled "18th Century Lexington: A Web of Interdependence" we explore 18th Century Lexington society and learn about the people who helped ignite the American Revolution.

Of course, coming soon...Season 2 of Historical Nerdery the Podcast!!

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

“They Are In Great Want of Provisions" - Supply Issues of Burgoyne's Royalist Corps

 When one thinks of the various Loyalist military units that served during the American Revolution, the observer will often turn their attention towards units such as the Queen's Rangers, the King’s Royal Regiment, the Loyal American Regiment and the British Legion. These units, as well as others that served during the war, enjoyed the benefit of often being adequately supplied, armed and equipped by His Majesty’s government in order to sustain military operations against the American rebels.

However, not all Loyalist regiments and units were on equal footing. In fact, the experiences of those men that served in the various units that composed the “Royalist Corps” during the Burgoyne Campaign of 1778 and beyond highlight the disparity of clothing and equipment issuances that existed during the war. 


From its inception, Jessup’s Corps, McAlpin’s Corps, Peter’s Corps, and other Royalist units were seen by British military officials as temporary units that were organized to support the logistical needs of a specific campaign. As a result, these units were last in line to be supplied and supported during the war effort.




For example, during its formation in late 1776/early 1777, Jessup’s Corps was in desperate need of clothing and equipment.  As a result, General Carleton ordered Major Gray to acquire clothing for Jessup’s men and encouraged the major to locate “some cheap uniform clothing to keep them from the severity of the weather”.  In turn, the major travelled to Montreal and had purchased “on behalf of Messr Jessup and his followers” regimental coats.  As Gray would later note, the coats were “the cheapest that could be got, at Montreal, very Common red stuff turn’d up with Green as Red seemed to be their favorite colour, and being got rather than any other I gratified their taste.”  In April 1777, as additional recruits poured into Canada, Gray made a second attempt to procure coats for men drawn into Jessup’s Corps.  As with the January purchase, he was forced to buy the same cheap coats from the same supplier.  Nevertheless, the major was able to successfully clothe all but eight of Jessup’s recruits.  Inexplicably, Gray complained to his superiors that unless ordered, he would not purchase additional coats for the corps.


Research suggests that unlike the Royal Yorkers, Jessup’s received little to no other clothing issuances. As a result, the refugees that served in that unit often fielded in civilian clothing.

Yet, clothing was not the only issue Jessup’s Corps faced.  Many of the recruits who arrived in Canada were unarmed and poorly equipped.  As a result, the British government was forced to secure weapons and accoutrements for Jessup’s men.  Whereas other, better supplied Loyalist units (such as the Royal Highland Emigrants) received “modern” British” weaponry, It is likely Carleton ordered outdated Model 1728 French infantry muskets left over from the previous French and Indian War and sitting in storage in Quebec be issued to Jessup’s men.  Period accounts also suggest that many of Jessup’s men received partial “stands of arms” in the form of belly boxes and belting. 


The men of McAlpin’s Corps experienced a similar lack of supplies when it was organized after July 30, 1777. According to one period account, many of the refugees who joined McAlpins “came as they could, some from prisons, and some from committees . . . naked and barefoot, but with good hearts; no money being given to clothe them.” Worse, according to period accounts, only one third of the loyalists joining Burgoyne at Fort Edward were properly armed and equipped. 





Of course, Burgoyne moved to arm and supply these volunteers as quickly as possible.  Because the general did not bring military weapons for incoming Loyalist recruits, it is likely these men were armed with civilian muskets seized from the local populace or taken from incoming refugees.  For example, on September 7, 1777, sixteen civilian arms were delivered to McAlpin’s Corps.  As subsequent correspondence noted, “Some days ago the General told me there were a dozen firelocks at Head  Quarters, which would arm so many of the provincials; you will have the goodness to give directions for delivering them to the bearer a Serjeant of Captain Macalpins Corps. I am Dr. Sir your most obedient humble Servant Sm Fraser...Sept. 7th 1777; Head Quarters. Recd. Sixteen firelocks (that were brought in by Inhabitants to the Commissioners) for the use of Capt. Macalpins Corps. Thos Fraser Lieut. in Captn. McAlpin Corps.”


Following Burgoyne’s defeat and the retreat to Canada, most, if not all, of the Royalist Corps struggled to receive proper arms, equipment and clothing. Recognizing that his men were armed with a mix of old French military muskets, fowlers and commercial trade guns, McAlpin begged governmental officials that  “I need not explain to His Excellency the figure an old grey-headed fellow will make at the head of a parcel of raw, undisciplined people with bad arms . . . I hope the General will be good enough to prevent me from appearing in this mortifying situation by ordering good arms to be delivered to us.”  It appears McAlpin did make some progress and did receive some “good arms” in 1778.  Nevertheless, as late as August 3, 1778, McAlpin still reported a “return of arms and accouterments wanting to compleat Captain McAlpin’s Corps of Volunteers . . . 35 firelocks, 35 bayonets, 35 belts and frogs, 35 cartridge boxes.” 



Despite their best efforts, the men of the Royalist Corps would not receive new uniforms until November, 1778. Worse, this would be the only identified clothing the corps would receive over the next two years.
  To complicate matters, these coats were the highly unpopular blue coats faced white that were often worn by their New England enemies. According to a complaint filed by the officers of Jessup’s Corps,  “With all Respect and due difference we the subscribing Officers of the Loyalists beg leave to represent to Your Excellency, that the Cloathing in Store at this Garrison being Blue faced with White, the same as the Uniform of many Regiments of our Enemies, we are apprehensive that should we be sent on service with this Cloathing, many fatal accidents might happen, from mistakes of Indians and our own Scouting Parties, as was actually the case several times last Campaign. We are aware that to expect this Cloathing should be totally laid aside, for such reasons, after the great expense the Crown has been at, must be deemed unreasonable; our wishes only are that Your Excellency will Order us, Red Clothing, as along as any remains in Store, and that the Blue may be made use of the last.  Lieut Colonel St. Leger has been pleased at our request to suffer us to draw only half Mounting, for the present, the Blanket Coats we have purchased for the Men by his directions, supplying the place of the Coats, untill Your Excellency will be pleased to decide for us; and whatever that decision may be we shall be entirely satisfied – The Transporting the Cloathing at this Season, we are sensible will be attended with some Expense to Government, which we do not wish to burthen it with; but should Your Excellency Order us the Red Clothing we will chearfully defray the Expense of Carriage.”


Besides a lack of supplies, shelter was almost non-existent.  As Sir. John Johnson correctly noted in correspondence to Haldimand regarding McAlpin’s and other corps, “I have not mentioned Tents, or Camp Equipage, tho they [are] wanting for the whole Regiment – but should your Excellency think them Necessary, I shall immediately forward them.” 

Worse yet, the volunteers of McAlpin’s Corps often found themselves at odds with civilian refugees living in Sorel.  Competition for limited supplies, including fresh food and clothing, proved to be a source of constant irritation.  On more than one occasion, Major McAlpin described incidents of large groups of loyalist refugees engaged in fights with his soldiers.  

The lack of supplies for the Royalist Corps continued into the 1780s. On November 12, 1781, British officials ordered that Jessup’s, Peter’s and McAlpin’s Corps be amalgamated into a single battalion designated the “Loyal Rangers”. Yet despite this reorganization, the problems of a proper supply chain continued. 


A little more than a month after assuming command, Major Edward Jessup complained “the men in the Corps of Royalists are in great want of Cloathing and that I Beg His Excellancy will pleas to give orders for their being issued of the green Cloaths as we understand there is a sufficient Quantity of that sort to Cloath the whole Corps . . . Capt Sherwood tells us that his Coat is approved of as a pattern for our uniform which we shall Immetate but shall need some green Cloath for facings (as the Present facings are Red) I thought it would be but Little Expence if any Rat eaten or Damaged Coats Should be in the Store.”  Ten days later, Jessup ordered “The Captains and Commanding Officers of Companys are to Deliver without delay to the Acting Adjutant an Exact Return of their non Commissioned Officers Drummers and Private Men in their respective Company for whosoever it will be Necessary at Present to give Cloathing.”  By February 14th, the commander was still submitting requests for additional clothing.  On February 21, 1782, Jessup was able to report that only one hundred and seventy-four green regimental coats faced red had been issued to his men.


In short, a 1780 inspection of the Royalist Corps correctly summarized the state of supply for units like the Royalist Corps. “[They are] in great want of Provisions; and was distressed for everything having wore out all their Shoes, Mockosins, Trowsers, Leggings, &c…”